Sealed package



9 E. SCQFIELD SEALED PACKAGE Filed Nov. 22,. 1924 Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR SCOFIELD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ANCHOR CAI' AND CLOSURE CORPORATION, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEALED PACKAGE.

Application lcd November 22, 1924. Serial No. 751,654.

This invention relates to packaging and particularly to a side seal and package. It is especially applicable in the packing' of foodstuffs and the like in packers jars or 6 tumblers.

Heretofore in the art packages have been formed by side sealing a closure to a tumbler or the like. The side seals have been formed in various ways and -packages have 10 been produced which are satisfactory for some purposes. However the prior art seals which are commercially desirable from the standpoint of economy of material and labor, sometimes yield under the action of substantial pressures developed within the package. When packages of foodstuffs are heat treated to process the contents, sub stantial internal pressures are usually developed; and hence these prior art packages can be heat treated only with fairly elaborate equipment and by the exercise of considerable care to maintain the packages under a sufficient external pressure which is substantially equal to the internal pressure dez5 veloped.

The failure of the prior art-seals under the action of internal pressure is usually due to one or more of the following characteris tics of those seals: (l) gasket not held tightly against the sealing wall of the vessel; (2) gasket not so held against the sealing wall that there is firm pressure throughout a wi de zone of contact with the sealing wall; (3) lower edge of the gasket not adequately supported, thereby permitting the gasket to be crowded downward by the pressure within the vessel ;l (4) ggasket retained in a bead which is so shaped when the seal has been completed that there are crevices, which in actual practice the asket often fails to fill at the time the se is made. Under 'the action of the internal pressure developed by heat treatment of the package the gasket may recede .into the` such crevices thereby im airing the seal.

he principal object of the present invention is to provide a package with an economical seal which is capable of withstanding a high pressure developed within the package.

Another object .of the invention is to provide a package capable of'being side sealed with a chuck or diev and capable of withstanding a high internal pressure.

An important object of the invention is to provide a side sealed package which requires a minimum amount of metal in the closure to locate the seal a given distance below the 'mouth of the vessel closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a side seal in which a metal pressure band holding a gasket against a sealing wall is held in place by a metal retaining ring.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a side sealed package in which 65 the seal is effected 'by a gasket which is well supported and held firmly against a sealing wall.-

Other objects will be apparent from the description of the invention.

In accordance with the above and other objects of the invention the diiiiculties of the prior art are overcome by a package which is illustrated as comprising a packers tumbler sealed by means of a gasket and a sheet metal closure. The closure comprises a cover portion which rests on top of the tumbler and a cylindrical portion'which depends from the periphery of the cover portion and embraces the vessel through a zone contiguous to its mouth. An annular shelf extends substantially horizontally outward from the bottom of the cylindrical portion, and a gasket is positioned immediately below the shelf so as to be against a sealing 85 Wall of the vessel and have its upper edge in contact with the horizontal shelf. A band of metal depends from the periphery of the shelf and this band is deformed so as to be somewhat concaved and slope downwardly 90 and Vinwardly thereby forming a pressure band which urges the gasket throughout its Y entire width directly against the sealing walll of the vessel. In order to hold the lower or free edge of the pressure band in its restricted condition there is provided an inturned horizontal Hanger. which is reduced in diameter when the seal is made and forms a retaining ring which holds the pressure band against outward movement. This flange also supports the lower edge of the gasket, thereby` preventing it from being sushed or distorted downwardly by ressure eveloped with the package. The nish of the vessel may bc provided with a small bead preferably near the upper limit of the sealing zone to engage the gasket and thereby greatly increase the limit of internal pressure which the seal will withstand.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevation of a package embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the closure before sealing and one means for making the seal.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the deformation of the closure bead by the sealing operation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the completed seal.

FigureI 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing an alternative form of the seal. v

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of the invention, a a packers jar or tumbler 1 is provided with a closure comprising a cover portion 2 from which depends a cylindrical portion 3 which' embraces the tumbler through a zone contiguous to its mouth. Extending-substantially horizontally outwardly from the lower edge of the portion 3 is an annular shelf 4. After the closure has been applied, but before the seal has been made; a cylindrical metal band 5 vdepends from the periphery of the shelf 4 and at the bottom of the band is an inturned horizontal flange 6 which supports a rectangular gasket 7 adjacent to the sealing wall of the tumbler 1, as shown in Fi 2. B suitable means such as a chuck or re ucing ie shown in Fig. 2 the depending cylindrical portion is deformed inwardly toward the sealing wall forming a metal pressure band which issomewhat concaved and slopes inwardl and downwardly from the periphery of tie shelf 4, as showp in l Fig. 3. The reducing die .decreases the 'diameter of the ring or liange 6, and thus this flange becomes a retaining ring which holds the pressure band 5 constricted., Outward movement of the bottom of the pressure band being prevented, this band exerts a firm pressure upon the gasket 7 holding it directly and tightly'against the sealing wall throughout the entire width of the gasket, as shown in Fig. 4. The upper edge of the gasket is in contact with the shelf 4 and the lower edge is supported by the horizontal flange 6, and thus the gasket is supported on all sides insuring its maintenance under compression. It is seen that the cap bead formed by the portions 4, 5, and 6 is free from crevices and hence there is no danger of the gasket failing to completely fill the bead when the seal is made.

'Furthermore the lower edge of the gasket is well supported since the lower corner lies in the right angle formed by the flange 6 and the lower portion of the'pressure band v5, and hence it is impossible for the gasket to in any way recede or to crawl downward under the influence of forcev applied to the top oflthe gasket by pressure developed within the container.

The seal as shown in Fig. 4 is capable of withstanding a considerable internal pressure and hence when the package is heat treated it is not necessary to exercise particular care to maintain it under an extei'-, nal pressure which is accurately equal to the internal pressure developed by the contents of the package. ln the form of seal shown in Fig. 5, the finish of the vessel 1 is provided with a bead 8 which projects into the gasket 7 preferably near the top of the gasket. 'The gasket being held firmly under'compression, this bead so greatly in\ creases the internal pressure required to blowy off the closure that the package may be heat treated to process the contents without placing it under an external pressure.

In the less expensive grades of packers tumblers the process of manufacture is such that many of the pieces have irregularities close to the mouth. For this reason it is desirable to place a side seal at a distance below the mouth of the tumbler. With applicants seal the shelf 4 is not curved or projected upward by the sealing operation and thus the gasket is-not drawn toward the mouth while the seal is lbeing made. For this reason applicants closure requires a minimum amount of metal to placethe seal a given distance below the mouth of the tumbier.

It is realized that the present invention vmay be utilized in forms other than particularly disclosed and hence itis desired that the foregoing disclosure be considered as illustrative and not in the limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim2 1. A sealed packagecomprising a vessel having a sealing wall adjacent its mouth; l in combination with closure'means comprising a normally rectangular gasket in contact with said-sealing'wall; a substantially horizontal annular shelf in contact with the upper surface of the gasket; anda deformed band 'of metal depending from said shelf and holding said gasket directly against'l said sealing wall, said band of metal before deformation being in the form of-a cylinder attached to the periphery of said shelf and\\ having a substantially horizontal inturned\\ flange at its lower edge and the band after deformation sloping downwardly and inwardly from the periphery of said shelf with the inturned flange substantially horizontal and supporting the lower edge of said gasket.

2.A sealed package comprising a vessel having a sealingwall adjacent its mouth; in combination with'closure means compris- 130 ing a rover portion; a cylindrical portion 'depending from said cover portion and embracing said vessel; a gasket in contact with said sealing wall'; an annular shelf extending substantially horizontally from the lower edge of said cylindrical portion, said shelf being in contact with the upper surface of said gasket; and a 'deformed band of metal depending from said shelf and holding said gasket directly against said sealing wall, said band of metal before deformation being in the form of a cylinder attached to the periphery of said shelf and having a substantially horizontal inturned flange at its lower edge, and the band after deformation sloping downwardly and inwardly from the periphery of said shelf with the inturned flange substantially horizontal and supporting the lower edge of said gasket.

3. A sealed package comln'ising a vessel having a substantially cylindrical sealing wall adjacent its mouth and a bead formed on said sealing wall; in combination with closure means comprising a normally rectangular gasket in contact with said sealing wall and said bead, a substantially horizontal annular shelf in contact with the upper surface of the gasket, a band of metal depending from said shelf and deformed inwardy to urge said gasket directly against said sealing wall throughout a wide zone of Contact including said bead whereby a powerful seal is obtained, and a flange inturned from the lower edge of said band to support the lower edge of the gasket` -said flange being substantially horizontal after deformation of the band of metal.

4t. A sealed package comprising a vessel having a sealing wall adjacent its mouth; in combination with closure means comprising a gasket in contactwith said sealing wall; a substantially horizontal annular shelf in contact with the uppersurface of said gasket; and a'deformed band of metal depending from said shelf and holding said gasket directly againstvsaid sealing wall, said band of metal before deformation being in the form of a cylinder attached to the periphery of said shelf and having a substantially horizontal inturned flange at its lower edge, and the band after deformation being generally concave and sloping downwardly and inwardly from the periphery of said shelf with the inturned flange substantially horizontal and supporting the lower edge of said gasket.

'5. A sealed package comprising a vessel having a sealing wall adjacent its mouth;

in combination with Vclosure means compris-l ing a gasket in contact with said sealing wall; an annular shelf in contact with the upper surface of said gasket; a pressure band of deformed metal sloping downwardly and' inwardly from said annular shelf, said pressure band throughout a substantial portion of its height being substantially parallel to said sealing wall and holding said gasket directly against said sealing wall; and a retaining ring holding the lower edge of said pressure band in constricted condition.

6. A sealed package comprising a vessel i the/f lower edge of said pressure band in constricted condition, said retaining ring supporting the lower edge of said gasket.

7. A sealed package comprising a vessel having a sealing wall adjacent its mouth; in combination with closure means comprising a normally rectangular gasket in contact with said sealing wall; an annular metal portion in contact with the upper surface of said gasket, a pressure band urgingsaid gasket against said sealing wall, said band being deformed toward said sealing wall and having in its lower portion a zone of substantial height substantially parallel to said sealing wall; and an inturned flange at the lower edge of said pressure band and forming therewith an angle which receives the outer lower corner of the gasket and supports the same, said flange being narrow and leaving a large portion of the edg'e of the gasket exposed to facilitate opening of the package.

8. lA, sealed package comprising a vessel having a substantially cylindrical sealing Wall adjacent its mouth and a bead formed on said sealing wall; in combination with closure means comprising a gasket in contact with said sealing wall and said bead. an outwardly extending annular metal portion in contact with the upper surface of the gasket,-and a band of metal depending from said annular metal portion and deformed inwardly to urge said gasket directly against said vessel wall throughout a wide zone of contact including saidbead, said band having in its lower portion a zone of substantial height substantially parallel to said sealing wall. Y

9. A sealed package comprising a vessel having a substantially cylindrical sealing wall adjacent its mouth and a bead formed o'nsaid sea-ling wall, in combination with closure means comprising a gasket in contactwith said sealing wall and said bead; an outwardly extending' annular metal portion extending above the uppersurface of the gasket; a band of metal depending from said annular metal portion and deformed inwardly to urge said gasket directly' against said vessel wall throughout a Wide zone of Contact; and an 'nturned flange at the Ilower edge of said band of metal.

10. A sealed package comprising a vessel having a side wall sealing surface in Combi- 10 nation with closure means comprising a gasket; an outwardly extending member in contact with the upper surface of said gas ket; and a pressure band of deformed metal sloping downwardly and inwardly from said outwardly extending member; said pressure band throughout a substantial portion of its height being substantially parallel to said side wall and holding said gasket directly thereagainst.

EDGAR SCOFELD. 

